NLCB Chutney Soca Monarch 2007 Semi-finals

Despite the controversy surrounding some contestants who were billed to perform at the nearby United National Congress's Dollar Fete, the National Lotteries Classic Chutney Soca Monarch Semi-Finals, which was held at the Rienzi Complex in Couva, came off smoothly and attracted a large enthusiastic crowd. Although the actual competition did not start until 11:20pm, Raymond Ramnarine and Dil-E-Nadan, St. Johns United Tassa Group and the Durga Shakti Dance Troupe kept the crowd entertained. Dil-E-Nadan and their dynamic front line singer Derreck Seales, Devika Ram and Raymond Ramnarine were on stage for about an hour, belting out a range of soca, reggae, pop, chutney, and Bollywood movie songs. At one point they were joined on stage by Heartbreakers, a four-member all male dance group, who thrilled the audience with their acrobatic dance moves.

Shaffiyat Boya Mohammed singing 'The Roller' kicked off the competition segment. He was one of the 33 contentests vying for a place in the finals where $520,000 in prize money would be at stake. Most of the contestants were accompanied on stage by the Durga Shakti Dancers, the Nirvana dancers or the Shiv Shakti dance troupe, who all lit up the stage with their combination of colour, choreography and movement. The contestants in order of appearance were:

Artiste / Song

Shaffiyat Boya Mohammed / The Roller

Ryan Peter Estrada / Who is de Father?

Kenneth Supersad / Chutney on the Rise

Vinoo 'Stiffy' Harrilal / Walay Your Waist

Mohip Poonwassie / Suno Gon

Ravi Babooram / Love You Till I Die

Robin Jagdip / If ah Catch yuh Tonight

Lynette 'Lady Gypsy' Steel / Lal

Arnold 'King Jordie' Jordan / Dance in Yuh Sari

Michael 'Soca Elvis' Salloum / Chutney Wine

Mc Donald Hercules / Sing a Chutney For Me

Marva 'Marvellous Marva' Mc Kenzie / Gayaweyla

Trevor Gore / Carapachima Jump

Ramdeen 'Falko' Maharaj / Shanti Bati

Davindra Ramdath / Hamay Dar Laagay

Phoolmattee Ramjattan / Shadi Karoo

Lal Bharat / Feel meh Heart

Angela Ramoutar / Bold Face Woman

Lynn Khan / Chalo Nadiya

Morel 'Luta' Peters / Curry Duck

Nigel Salickram / Bala Man

Edward Ramdass / Wiggle It

Neeshan 'Hitman' Prabhoo / Mohania

Arsha Kamachee / Piyataryiaa Murtie

Heeralal Rampartap / Old by Face, Young by Waist

Samraj 'Rikki Jai' Jaimungal / Boleh Murugwah

Sarika Mahabir / Ah Want to Party

Adesh Samaroo / Rum Like Dat

Carlene Wells

Tricia 'Sexy Tricia' Hamilton / Calalloo

Neeshad Sultan / Julaway Julani

Rooplal Gidharie / Meeray Peeya

The contestants were solidly backed up by JMC Treveni which is seen as the number one cross-over band in the world. After the first ten contestants, the Shiv Shakti dancers took to the stage in a mass of colour and movement, executing a beautifully choreographed piece to rousing appreciation from the crowd.

In the second half of the show, some of the top contenders showed their worth, including visually-impaired singer Arsha Kamachee, Adesh Samaroo, Heeralal Rampartap, Neeshan 'Hitman' Prabhoo and Carlene Wells. The three-time Chutney Soca Monarch Rooplal Gidharie was the last contestant of the night.

Popular soca singer Rohan 'Fireball' Richards, one of the contestants, did not appear on stage to perform when his turn came, despite being seen at the venue earlier. He was the only absent semifinalist of the night.